Sometime down the road I might study in depth the current events at the time that this novel was written since I think it will give me a better understanding of it. After all, le Guin makes it very clear in the intro to my edition of the book that this book is notabout the future -- it's about the world as she sees and understands it.

I have one last comment...

SPOILER

When I read this book I can't help but feel that the time that Therem and Genly spend on the ice is really what the story is leading up to -- everything else is just preparation for that, and everything after (not that there's much after) is just a wrap up. Hmm...